In the first part of our Bharat Darshan in songs, we journeyed through small towns for which I have a special liking. But, ‘progress’ means progression from villages to small towns to big cities. If you live in small towns, you are a lesser mortal. There are practical aspects of jobs, infrastructure, access to education, medical facilities and entertainment, which pull people from the hinterland to the big cities. Therefore, Bharat Darshan is not complete unless we cover the Metros too.
Our film industry is primarily located in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. In the vintage era, Lahore and Kolhapur/Pune, too, were major centres. However, Mumbai, i.e. the erstwhile Bombay, gradually became the magnet for talents from all parts of the country. This reflected in songs too. While the songs of small towns do not show a marked predominance of any particular town, Bombay/Mumbai is clearly the epicentre for songs of metros and big cities. Delhi, though being the seat of political power of the country, fares poorly compared to Mumbai. I will try to compensate it by posting more Dilli songs than Bombay ones. The other metro songs are negligible. It would be quite a challenge for SoY‘s knowledgeable members to unearth sufficient number of songs based on other metros. Our storehouse of songs, KS Bhatia has helped me in locating songs of Kalkatta. Now Bangalore (Bengaluru), too, is counted as a metro city. I am not aware of any Hindi film song featuring this city. I am sure there should be such songs from down South, which our knowledgeable readers would be able to post. My criteria is that the song need not be picturised in that city, but it should mention the city in a prominent way.
So, let us go on our second leg of Bharat Darshan – of metro cities.
Bombay/Bambai
1. Ye hai Bambai meri jaaan by Mohammad Rafi & Geeta Dutt from C.I.D. (1956), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music OP Nayyar
Once upon a time they called it Bombay or Bambai, which sounded so nice in songs: Ye hai Bombay meri jaan – change it to Mumbai, it is not the same. Being the home of Bollywood, Bombay also has the maximum number of eponymous songs, and warrants a post by itself. A reader Manoj has expressed a wish on ‘Open House’ that someone post a list of songs that contain nostalgic scenes of Bombay and surroundings of 1940s, 50s and 60s. I have consciously included only 3 songs for Bombay to give greater representation to Dilli and other metros. The Maximum City drew everyone like a pied piper, where dreams were made or shattered; and, therefore, people looked at it in awe or wonder, admiration or cynicism, love or hate. At one end is this iconic song – Ye hai Bambai meri jaan – which takes a sarcasm-laden look at the city.
2. Ei hai Bambai nagariya tu dekh babua by Kishore Kumar from Don (1978), lyrics Indeevar, music Kalyanji-Anandji
At the other end is the wonderstruck look of a country boy who has landed in the city to eke out a living – Ei hai Bambai nagariya tu dekh babua. This song, too, describes the contradictions of the city, but does it in a non-judgmental way. The purabia simpleton, Amitabh Bachchan, with two lost kids to look after, is not deterred by the burden. He amuses the kids with his carefree abandon in this street-performance song.
3. Bam bam bam bam Bambai meri hai by Amit Kumar & others from Rakhwala (1989), lyrics Sameer, music Anand-Milind
Now there are many kids giving company to a trampish Anil Kapoor, who has no grudges against Bombay. He starts off with a riotous dance in a restaurant in which they have apparently gatecrashed. They go on to dancing and singing near all the iconic landmarks of Bombay: Marine Drive, Gateway of India and Taj Hotel. In the end, it becomes a medley of his famous songs like Ek do teen (Tezaab) and My name is Lakhan (Ram Lakhan).
Dilli
4. Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re by Arun Kumar & Rahmat Bano from Jhool (1942), lyrics Pradeep, music Sarswati Devi
Dilli is the capital of power, whereas Bambai has the power of capital. Politics and money are a potent combination. Therefore, while the man is gratified that he has got the bride from Dilli, the girl is equally excited that her groom has come from Bambai. Mumtaz Ali’s dance is a delight to watch.
5. Tere liye hi to signal tod taad ke, Aya Dillliwali girlfriend chhod chaad ke by Arijit Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan from Ye Jawani Hai Diwani (2013), lyrics Kumar, music Pritam Chakravarty
Given this importance of the girl from Delhi, giving up a Dilli girl for the sake of another is the ultimate proof of love. There is no tentativeness in the boy’s decision, he emphasis he has rushed breaking all the signals only for her.
6. Hum Dilli ke daade hain by Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor from Dilli Ka Dada (1962), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanvi, music N Datta
Delhi people have a serious image problem as being boorish and uncultured. If even decent persons like Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor take to yodelling and declaring that they are Dadas of Dilli, there is indeed a problem, though they try to suggest that they are bad for evil people, and nice people need not fear them.
7. Dilliwale bure nahi by Shamshad Begum from Sabzbagh (1951), lyrics Aziz Kashmiri, music Vinod
Even in the 1950s, there was some defensiveness about Dilli – they are not so bad after all. The song treats Dilli at par with with Bambai.
8. Zameen bhi wohi, hai wohi aasmaan, kahan hain wo Dilli ki galiyan kahan by Rafi from Chandni Chowk (1954), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Roshan
I guess the image problem of Dilli is a recent phenomenon. Even during the turbulent times when Dilli was plundered by all, the 19th century poet Zauq said: In dino garche Dakkan mein hai bahut qadr-e-sukhan/ Kaun jaaye Zauq par Dilli ki galiyan chhod kar (These days there is a lot of respect for poetry in the south, but who can go leaving the charms of the streets of Dilli behind). Roshan captures the nostalgia and romance of Old Delhi in this beautiful song, sung so evocatively by the one and only Rafi.
9. Dilli tere qile par honge Nishan hamaare from 1857 (1946), lyrics , music Sajjad Husain
Dilli has symbolized the seat of power since several millennia. Netaji gave the slogan “Dilli Chalo”. The city has seen upheavals in history, of empires being built and demolished. The young brigade of the 1857-uprising saw capturing Dilli fort as the ultimate symbol of establishing the indigenous rule ousting the firangis. The lyrics of the song are very significant in the context of today’s India. The uprising signified a unique Hindu-Muslim unity fighting against the British who were considered foreign. The rebels invoke both Bhagwan and Allah and sing of restoring the glory of Babar and Akbar who were considered our own. It is said that this was the trigger for the empire’s project of ‘divide and rule’, when the British finally crushed the uprising with some horrific brutality, and the country came directly under the rule of the British crown.
10. Dil jawani ke nashe se choor hai..Kaun kahta hai ki Dilli door hai by Rafi from Birha Ki Raat (1950), lyrics Sarshar Sailani, music Husnlal-Bhagatram
‘Ab Dilli door nahi’ has become another metaphor akin to ‘Dilli chalo’. This would now mean capturing power at the centre in the general elections. There has also been a movie by that name. ‘Bambai chalo’ or ‘Ab Bambai door nahi’ does not evoke the same sentiment. Here HB create a chirpy song in their characteristic style.
11. Dilli ke bazaar ki balma sair kara de by Asha Bhosle from Teen Bahuraniyan (1968), music Kalyanji-Anandji
But oblivious of all the historical and political legacy of Dilli, the bahus in this typical family drama from Gemini are only interested in the markets of the city. The city does abound in markets such as Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh and Lajpat Nagar which are middle-class ladies’ delight.
12. Mithai ki dukan meri Dilli ke bazaar by Geeta Dutt and Gandhari from Tara (1949), lyrics Aziz Kashmiri
While the famous markets of Dilli I have mentioned in the earlier song are in some localities, mithai is ubiquitous in the city. Besides mentioning the names of various mithais, the song also stereotypes immigrants from various regions who have brought their own idiosyncrasies to the city.
Kalkatta
13. Eint ki dukki, paan ka ikka….Sunoji ye Kalkatta hai by Rafi from Howrah Bridge (1958), music OP Nayyar
Om Prakash gives a classic sight-seeing tour of Kalkatta to his fare, giving also a running commentary as he drives his tonga through its famous landmarks. The song has the typical tonga beats of OP Nayyar.
14. Bombay purani Kalkatta purana from Umar Qaid (1961), Rafi and Kamal Barot, lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Iqbal Qureshi
We have seen several songs in which Dilli is juxtaposed with Bombay. Here Kalkatta comes in for comparison with Bombay. A terrific street dance song performed by minor actors. Shankar-Jaikishan have come up with outstanding orchestration.
15. Suno suno Miss Chatterjee…Kalkattewali rooth gayi to by Rafi and Asha Bhosle from Bahaarein Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), lyrics Shevan Rizvi, music OP Nayyar
In the heydays of Johnny Walker, a comic song picturized on him enhanced the commercial viability of a film.
16. Laaga laaga jhulaniya ka dhakka, balam Kalkatta pahunch gaye by Asha Bhosle & Usha Mangeshkar from Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971), lyrics Indeevar, music Kalyanji-Anandji
There is an element of exaggeration in the song, but they take care that a push from jhulaniya makes the balam fly off only to Kalkatta, the nearest metro from Hong Kong.
17. Laaga laaga nazariya ka dhakka, balam Kalkatta pahunch gaye by Vinod Rathore & Sadhna Sargam from Naam Kya Hai (1999), music Anand-Milind
Can mere looks send a person flying off to another city? Despite lack of evidence, there has been a belief in psychokinesis, just as people have believed in several scientific hoaxes. This explains why at the turn of the millennium, Anand-Milind should repackage the same theme in a slightly different tune.
Madras
18. Main Bangali chhokra..Main Madrasi chhokri by Rafi & Asha Bhosle from Ragini (1958), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music OP Nayyar
This is the only song with Madras that to comes to my mind. Nice combination of classical and comic. Shows how talented OP Nayyar was. It seems this song has not figured in the long series on OP Nayyar. A worthy song to end the post with.
{ 104 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice! I was hoping you would do a post on the metros, so this is very satisfying. What I’m really impressed by is the number of Dilli songs you’ve come up with – I couldn’t think of a single one. (Incidentally, my sister, who’s a historian and specializes in Delhi, was wondering how many old songs are picturized in Delhi – as in outdoors, so that it’s obvious that this is Delhi, and not a set. I could come up with a measly three songs, I think).
Anyway, back to the topic, and here is one Bombay song that always comes to my mind when I think of the city. Haven’t seen the film, but this song used to be fairly popular once upon a time. From Haadsaa, Yeh Bambai shahar haadson ka shahar hai:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwvSXpbR7Wk
And, much nicer, Dekhne mein bhola hai from Bambai ka Babu:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kKn8lmkxrA
AKji
I was waiting for this second part to publish.
Wow, there are so many songs on Delhi.
I think someone suggested the song dilli se aaya pingu from Ek Thi Ladki.
I was going to add that, but that wouldn’t be my original suggestion.
I’ll have to think about it and add the songs later.
It was a wonderful post to read, though I’m not a great fan of dilli waking girlfriend song, it’s definitely catchy.
I am hopeful to return with some songs to add.
🙂
The song from ek Thi Ladki was suggested in the last post.
But by someone else
I forgot to say ‘in the last post’
Madhu,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Before preparing for this post I never imagined there are so many Delhi songs. But songs picturised outdoors in Delhi is another ball game. I am sure there would be a fairly good number of such songs, though not as many as Bombay. Driving down the Rajpath seems to have been the setting for some songs. It beats other metros in a large number of historical/archeological sites, and also some very picture-worthy modern sites. But Bombay had the advantage of being the centre of gravity of films.
Heard Ye Bambai shahar haadson ka shahar hai for the first time. Thanks for sharing it. Dekhne mein bhola hai is my great favourite. This song also affirms that there is something special about Bambai ka Babu.
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Some readers posted metro songs too on the last post though I had clarified that it was devoted to small towns. If you want to challenge yourself think of some Kalkatta/. Madras and Bangalore songs.
Got another Delhi song from Chandani
Shaharon Mein se shahar suna,bhai dilli,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EoCYhTvr2sA&vl=en
And of course bambai se aayi puna from hum hai rahi pyar ke
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-wSo9PneS1w
I’ll think about madras cucultta songs.
Hmmm…
Let’s see
This song may qualify,
Jadu bura Bangal ka from Chandani chowk
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzfj9qwkgOk
Anup,
Shaharon mei se shahar suna is a perfect Delhi song picturised at the iconic India Gate. Bambai se ayi Poona is such a fun song, mentions Delhi and Patna too. But Jadu bura Bangal ka may not qualify. I don’t think it mentioned Calcutta. The challenge for Madras, Bangalore is on.
AK, I’ve seen plenty of songs in recent years which are obviously shot in Delhi, but among the older films they seem to be much fewer in number. Neela Akash has a good song filmed at Lodhi Gardens and Ishaara has a song shot at Humayun’s Tomb. New Delhi, oddly enough, doesn’t have a song picturised in Delhi, even though there are plenty of scenes outdoors.
Anyway, back to the topic. I decided to check my notes on movies, and found this. Sun Sun Madras ki Chhori from Mujrim:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17olij
AKji:
The much anticipated post has arrived and fully justifies the buildup. The songs are very representative. Let me contribute “O Bombai”, a Chitalkar song from Saudagar (1951) that I recently heard on Radio Ceylon. It should have been adopted by the metro as its anthem!. Listen from 0:00 to 3:40 (the very first song).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrkmQXmciBE
Madhu,
Sun sun Madras ki chhori is such a fabulous dance song, wonderfully composed by OP Nayyar. Heard for the first time. Thanks a lot.
Canasya,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. O Bambai has all the makings of an anthem, but it seems C Ramchandra did not develop the song fully.
Madhu ji ,
A song which comes to my mind is Ye Bambai Shaher ka badaa naam hai, par gadbad ghotale ka sab kaam hai. ( Film _ Kya ye Bambai Hai ). The link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhFPBvBKjU0 . Extensive Footage of Bombay , as it was known then . Really looking so peaceful .
Excellent post, that has many songs totally unheard of.
I recall a couple of Gujarati film songs that include / were filmed in Bombay:
AA Mumbai Chhe – Manna Dey- Mahendi Rang Lagyo – Avinash Vyas
The second line of mukhda rhymes as :
आ मुंबई छे
अहीं भई करतां झाझी बई छे
(This Mumbai, here are more ladies than gentleman)
https://youtu.be/tF6Bejy5m4w
Mumbai Ni Kamani Mumbai Maa Samani
(Earnings from Mumbai get consumed in Mumbai only..
Santu Rangili – 1976
https://youtu.be/DJp79X7xOkc
AK ji ;
A nice sequel to Small town songs . I think it will be a good idea to pick best song of the two articles i.e the best among the listed and contributed songs . Here are some songs from my Store …
1. Sher se ladne aayi….Rafi…Preetam….SJ….the song mention dilli, kalkatta and bareyeli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07qO5ycKYUU
2. Dilli hai dil hindustan ka…Mukesh, Lata…Patang…Chitragupt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5UMycHA14s&t=102s
3. Dilli se railgadi chuk chuk…..Lata…Suhag sindoor…Chitragupt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5Wq7U6ztw
4. Mein bombai ka babu ….Rafi…Naya Daur….OPN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCl9IFKsz1E
5. Chuk Chuk Bombay se Baroda tak….Asha, Usha, Mahesh…..Rafoo Chakar….KA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWfsajjbHmg
…..to be contd.
Naresh Kariwala,
Nice Bambai song.
Ashokji,
It seems Gujarati films’ main centre of attraction was Bombay. Both the songs give a nice sightseeing of the famous landmarks of Bombay.
KS Bhatiaji,
Now you are in real form. Thanks for the additions. Song #1 and 5 were new to me.
A measly three songs for Bombay and eight (8!) for Delhi? Ye bahut nainsaafi hai, Sardar!’
Just for that: Bambai se gayi poona, poona se gayi Dilli from Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wSo9PneS1w
and Tumse jo dekhte hi pyar hua from Phool aur Patthar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAODwbpPWYw
And someone else wanting to wear Amritsari choodiyaan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEdTq3j-0U
(Gallan goodiyaan from Dil Dhadakne Do)
(After which, you will never believe I know anything about music at all.)
But, to redeem myself, while this doesn’t mention the city at all, it immerses itself in Bombay – in the rains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmD6GfZgKX8
Benares, for a change:
Kaisa jadoo dala ma benarasi roomalwaala from Watan se door
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW7ZKB1E0TU
And here’s a man who’s visited both Kashi and Mathura Tere dwaar khada jogi from Naagin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgSwlvpw7GM
AKji:
Here, just to provide the balance in favour of ‘Bambai’ (“Bambai hamari Bambai”, Rafi in Street Singer, 1966; MD: Suraj)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEeNo5jXeh8
Wonderful and we’ll researched picks!!
Anu,
I thought you are more a Bangalorean than a Mumbaikar. Want to take up my Bangalore (and Madras) challenge?
But thanks for the Bombay songs. The rain-soaked Bombay is very nice. There must be several songs of this type. Kashi dekhi, Mathura dekhi is my great favourite. Other songs were new to me. Thanks a lot for adding these songs.
“Know anything about music…”. I am too illiterate to comment.
Canasya,
Nice song, though Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore need more support.
Madhupati Sharma,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Suggesting a song not exactly fiting the theme.
But mentions states of india
From hum Panchhi ek daal ke
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uZGZzg9QR3o
AK ji ;
Two non filmi songs of 50s and 70s eras that were famous to dance for in clubs of those times.
Ladies of Calcutta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtGOX-q0qlw
Bom Bom Bom Bombay meri hai……Usha Uttap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo21FQNvL4A
KS Bhatiaji,
Nice additions. Calcutta song was new to me, and much needed.
AK ji;
In continuation two more songs each on calcutta and delhi….
8. chalo chalo chalo dilli….Chalo Delli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYG3UDbpeqU&t=2s
9. Chalo calcutta……Bhappi lehri, Sharon Prabhakar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-EyscUyQ9Q
….to be contd.
…..in continuation…
10. Bombai se aaya mera dost….Bhappi Lehri…Aap Ki Khatir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pJqFgAASeQ
11. Chahiye thoda pyar [ jai kalkatte wali ]…Kishore…Lahu Ke Do Rang…B Lehri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srfhnpDqZWg
….to be contd.
KS Bhatiaji,
Some pouring of songs! I like Bambai se aya mera dost a lot. Jai Kali Kalkattewali is ‘Abracadabra’ of street performers. But nice recall for balancing.
Wonder if the song below from 1949 Film Lahore with few scenes of the city in beginning is ok, if you allow Akhand Bharat.
Duniya Hamare Pyar Ki Yunhi Jawan Rahe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg5d4ogeE7A
AKji
you missed the song @ 22 suggested by me
Manoj,
Duniya hamaare pyar ki yun hi jawan rahe would probably not fit in my criteria. But it is an immortal song. It describes Lahore very fondly. Now it is a foreign city. But thanks for adding it.
Anup,
Thanks for reminding me. At times, while checking from a small device during travels I might miss a comment. The song from Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke is such nice song describing the regional diversity of the country.
AK ji
The two Bharat Darshan posts are interesting and also enlightening. The comments make the posts even more enjoyable. You have selected the songs very well. The songs from black and white films took us back to the bygone era. The cities – big or small – were much less crowded and movie scenes showing open spaces/roads were so pretty to watch. I grew up in New Delhi – my children do not believe that I learnt bicycle riding on a main road in Sarojini Nagar and when we played cricket using a tennis ball, the shots made the ball land on Ring Road but there was no risk involved in fetching the ball back.
Thanks to Bhatia ji also for linking up so many songs. I had totally forgotten the ‘ ghoda pishaori tanga lahori’ song from film Pyar ka Bandhan (Rafi -Sahir-Ravi).
Regards.
Tyagiji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Ashok Kumar Tyagi ;
Rightly you have described the screenplay of New Delhi and specially Sarojini Nagar….a must visit destination to shop in the famous Sarojini Nagar Market . We being housed in and around Green Park, Vasant Vihar and my I.I.T hostel in the mid 60s thru 80s, Sarojini Nagar was the desired marketing place . Prior to that we used to live around GPO [ Gole Dak Khanna] in govt allotted bungalows during mid 30s to mid 60s . During the pre parttion days we used to shift to Shimla during summer as it was the summer capital of india . There was hardly any traffic during mid 50s thru mid 60s . Time Span between two vehicles was about 20 minutes and cars limited speed was 30 miles per hour !!. Tonga rides were a charm to cover small distances at CP, Paharganj , Karolbagh and Chandni Chownk . There was a time when rail tram also used to ply in chandni chownk and Nai Sadak.
So whenever I want to see the pollution less delhi times I simply watch ….Tere Ghar Ke Samne…..the movie that was entirely shot in Delhi and Shimla .
Its a time to contribute more songs ; so here are two songs….
12. Dilli Ki Sardi mein…..Zameen…..Himesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8nLCS5ZnvQ
13. Chin o arab hamaara [ mention Bombay in second stanza]….Mukesh…Phir Subah Hogi….Khayaam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnKVOezOR4
Delhi, Bombay, Agra, Calcutta and Lucknow find mention in this Anand Bakshi-LP-Lata song from.’Dushman’:
‘Dekho, dekho, dekho bioscope dekho’
https://youtu.be/TuSEeV0ZSrw
AK,
Would this well-known song qualify for inclusion in this series since it only alludes to Delhi and Agra without mentioning them explicitly?
‘Aaj himalay ki choti se phir hamne lalkara hai’ from ‘Kismat’ (Pradeep-Amirbai Karnataki & Khan Mastana – Anil Biswas)
https://youtu.be/-1JATDtdSdY
And would this song qualify?
‘Zara sun lo ham apne pyaar ka’ from ‘Bazaar’ (Qamar Jalalabadi – Rajkumari, Lata & Chorus – Shyam Sundar Gaba)
https://youtu.be/vF0_Q2rDywk
Amother question – is there a third solo voice in this song?
Mr.Bhatia @ 23,
Here is another rendition of the ‘Ladies of Calcutta’ song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iII6Jmsonw
Check out the comment by Gerdeen Dyer on the page at the link above for information on the origins of the song.
To me, it seems as if the mukhda of the Lata-Kishore duet ‘Khoobsoorat haseena jaanejaan jaaneman’ from ‘Mr.X in Bombay’ (link below) seems to have been inspired by this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufTmwwThLLY
Great post AK. It introduced me to many songs I had not heard before, thanks.
I remember this song from my childhood – a favourite on ‘Bachchon ka program’: ‘Aa gaya madari le ke jaadu ki pitari’. The first stanza gives you a ‘Bambai darshan’: ‘Dadar, Worli, Churchgate, Boribundar, Chembur; naam he mera pyare saari Bambai me mashhoor..’.
https://youtu.be/mgF5ffL7znU
Subodh,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Aa gaya madari gives not only Bombay darshan, but also darshan of film stars – KL Saigal, Raj Kapoor and Meena Kapoor.
Ak,
You have introduced some good Delhi songs, Delhi can lead in politics but when it comes to songs and movies Bombay should not be sidelined I second Anu on the nainsafi.
Bambai meri hai song we sing:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6iHU0X6zIs
Ashwin @37;
There was one more inspired musical piece in ….Mr X in Bombay. The interlude of …..pyar bandte chalo ….is from musical piece of …..Murder She Said .
Ms. Mumbaikar 8 @ 40;
I am from Delhi but am still posting songs from other Metros like Mumbai , Kolkatta etc.Your quoted song I did post @23 [ I forget to number it as 7] .
To uplift delhi song , here is one from….Ab Dilli Door Nahi.
14.Chun Chun Karti aayi chhidiya….Rafi….Dattaram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsL82QnlqlM
…..in continuation
15. Jis ka joota usi ka sur….Mukesh….Guest House….Chitragupt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhUR9OhHy3E
….to be contd.
With reference to the beginning of the post, I would not argue that “‘progress’ means progression from villages to small towns to big cities. If you live in small towns, you are a lesser mortal. There are practical aspects of jobs, infrastructure, access to education, medical facilities and entertainment, which pull people from the hinterland to the big cities.”
Nevertheless I shall accept the situation described. The economic and other amenities should be made available without industrialization of small towns and villages and their beauty, historic, religious significance etc. should be maintained. Needs of small villages and towns must be made mandatory for all governments.
The successive state and central governments have failed and allowed big cities to grow out in monstrous proportion and they now face mass annihilation due to bad sanitation, short of water and other problems like “Roti, Kapada Makan”.
I do not see any future for the big cities like Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay. They are all waiting blindly for the nature’s kind wrath.
I remember there was a film called “Shahar-se-Door” made in Lahore in the middle of forties, but do not remember anything. The hero of the film “Anmol Ghadi” disillusioned by the city people and goes back to his little village and there could be similar endings in other films. Both the heroes of Khajanchi 1941 and RK’s Shri 420 go back to their simple villages.
But in reality the one who comes to a city out of curiosity or purposefully, stays in glued like a glue paper on the city gutter wall and creates a family that remains deprived for many generations.
I saw a tasty (Ganda) Bhelpuriwallah in Bombay’s Choupati going in the sea to to relieve himself and coming back and serving people Bhelpuri, Panipuri etc. and his customers enjoying his serving with in-healthy hands.
I am against glorifying the cities even in the films. The songs like “Yeh Shahar Bada Albela” etc are not good ideas.
Bombay’s film industry attracts more men and women hopefully to make big as big Amitabh Bachhan and ending up creating the families on a railway line gutter’s shantytown.
In my recent trip to the U.S.A., I found many places were overcrowded and many slept or lived on the streets. Similar things happened in the UK. Last few decades many people arrived and go on begging on the British Streets and live and sleep on the streets or in the public gardens.
While catching a train from the New York’s subway station I stepped in a puddle of human poo, one would have surprised at this filth in New York or London or anywhere in the Western countries where public health is much cherished and looked after. But now some people do all dangerous things to the public health.
Europe suffered from many kinds of contagious diseases and plagues and families were wiped out. So they become very careful.
But changing world politics Europe and Western world is now exposed and has become very vulnerable. Migrants hardly understand or do not care all they want a quick high standard of life which they do not get and all kinds of prostitution and exploitations have become rampant.
Shalan Lal
Mumbaikar8, Batting for Mumbai is expected from a Mumbaikar, but Anu has become more loyal than the king. Bombay meri hai is a very nice song. Thanks for adding it.
KS Bhatiaji,
With all the additions by the readers, Mumbai must have overtaken Dellhi. Nice songs.
Shalan,
I had written ‘progress’ in quotes. That should convey where I stand on this. But we can’t avoid metros even if we choose not to live there. Any mega city anywhere comes with its own set of problems.
Ms. Shalan Lal @44;
You said it all and your screenplay very much matches what Charlie Chaplin conveyed in his last silent/ sound fed movie of 1936…Modern Times . The movie that correctly predicted the struggle during the Great Depression when life of the people were caught in screw and nut assembly . The film is a comment on desperate employment and financial conditions resulting into many jail visits of even gentle people . In the final scene Charlie Chaplin and his girl friend walk down the road at dawn , towards an uncertain but hopeful future .
Raj Kapoor took up this road in his Shree 420 movie and developed the theme as extension of Modern Times . His struggle of not getting job ,even after holding a degree , led him to opt for other means of getting rich thru a Don . The film ended la charlie chaplins film with a happy and positive return to simplicity .
AK ji ;
One more bambaiya song to add on to metro listing.
16. Bambai raat ki bahoan mein….Asha….Ditto Title…..J P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wErzncdFPk
KS Bhatiaji,
A major difference between metros and small towns is that metros have night life. Thanks a lot for Bambai raat ki baahon mein.
AK ji;
Yes , very true ….. Life like active and passive . But some time small towns do offer a very peaceful life . Far from the madding crowd you really want to have some real peace of mind in a far off sleepy town or a place where every thing is in slow motion state . Any good song do bring virtual pleasure …..like the song …..Mitwa from Devdas. I think many readers will agree.
AK ji;
In continuation from #51 , here is a sleepy song , not from any Town or Metro , but from the hill top or mountain . It may not fit in this theme but is a good sleepy song from one of the vintage movie of 1937 from Parbhat production’s Wahan/Beyond the Horizon .
Maalan Baitthi……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyjtLFLnNpg
ksbhatia @ 48
Your understanding of Charlie Chaplin and his influence on RK’s Shri 420 is extremely good.
I noticed you have certain way to see how the films are made and you also go a bit deeper in your analysis.
It may be good idea that you review a selection of the old films from your keen eye for other people to see them again with interesting points
Shalan
AKji:
I believe the MD in Umar Qaid was Iqbal Qureshi (song # 14 above). Here are my bits on Kolkata and Bengaluru.
“Jai Kaali Kalkatte wali” (Kishore in ‘Love in Bombay’, MD: SJ; lyrics: Majrooh; the songs and the movie were released in 2013, 40 years after production!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK8QKVX2PUM
“Nam ooru Bengaluru” from Malyalam movie ‘Bangalore Days’(Singer and MD: Gopi Sundar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GUtsBv9KYE
When are you going to take us on ‘Vishwa Darshan’?
KS Bhatiaji,
Malan baithi is such a nice song. Thanks for sharing it. Chuupa chhupi is my great favourite. Kashi though does not come out very prominently.
KS Bhatiaji, Shalan Lal
I have been following your discussion on Raj Kapoor-‘Shree 420’ – Charlie Chaplin – ‘Modern Times’ with interest. Let me add some of my thoughts.
A lovable tramp with romantic heart, a girl, idyllic love – these are staples of Charlie Chaplin. Therefore, Shree 420 could be any other movie, say City Lights. The stand out themes of Modern Times are: Assembly line inhuman production making a man into a zombie, the joblessness of the depression era. And of Shree 420, innocence and honesty of poor from village contrasted with the greed, dishonesty and duplicity of city-rich. The poor has to trade his character to survive in the mean city. He takes the path of sin, until jolted back to his real self by love. Nargis always remains righteous. In Modern Times, Charlie Chaplin though bumbling and creating mayhem, does not fall into sin. It is the girl who faced with a good for nothing father, and starving siblings, takes to filching foodstuff, and is also charged with felony, though presented in a lovable way.
Just random thoughts. Both great movies, and in spirit similar.
Canasya,
Thanks for the correction. Jai Kali Kalkattewali is a great song. Seems to be inspired by Padosan in which Kishore Kumar had a similar ‘Natak Mandali’.
Good that you added a Bangalore song.
‘Vishwa Darshan’ – yes, a natural corollary.
Vishwa Darshan
OMG
I hadn’t thought of it as a sequel to these posts.
But nice thought
I was enjoying all the comments in both the parts. These posts are a living example of the fertility of the human imagination and AK has seized it with both the hands and brought out master pieces. As an ex top rung bureaucrat, he can put it across to his junior members and save govt. quite a lot of money in travel expenditure. I now expect a third part to cover global non Indian destinations since film makers had gone globe trotting like Around the World in 8 dollars.
Tamil movies had also songs on cities of their region. One which comes to my mind is the song “Madras nalla Madras” sung by late T M Soundararajan. Film Anubavi Raja Anubavi
https://youtu.be/3dyibNwhq6o
AK
You have chosen “Dilli tere qile par honge Nishan hamaare from 1857 (1946), lyrics , music Sajjad Husain but a very beautiful and different style song in Suraiya’s voice is missed out from the same film. It is “”Dilli Tere Kile Par”” lyric by Shewan Rizvi. Sajjad is very good in writing melodies. He always said that he is Melody Maker and not a Music Director. Let others do the job.
The film 1857 had successful pair of Suraiya and Surndra after their great success in “Anmol Ghadi”. The Wikipedia entry says that the film “1857” was fifth great money earner.
I had seen it in Video age and did not find that good. But I lked the songs of both Surendra and Suraiya.
However I did not find “Wikipedia” mentioning Rafi. The credit is given to “Suraiya” and I remember her voice and I do not remember Rafi’s voice and I do not think Sajjad has penned this song.
But I could have mistaken about it.
Shalan
One more song
From Bada bhai
Hello hello Hyderabadi, Calcutta tumse aankh lada by Asha Bhosle
Music by nashad
Lyrics by Raja mehdi Ali Khan
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zK2pHXqcOb8
DP Rangan,
I don’t know how they do it now. But with technology, the logistics must have become more manageable. It is interesting several readers have mentioned foreign cities. Bollywood has been quite prolific in having songs on cities around the world. Now I have to do the third part.
Thanks for ading Madras song. I can identify a very important landmark, Madras Central station.
Shalan Lal,
I am not aware of Suraiya version of ‘Dilli tere qile par’. The film did have a superlative Surendra-Suraiya duet, Teri nazar mein main rahun, meri nazar mein tu’.
Anup,
Thanks for the timely addition of Hyderabad and Calcutta.
AK I t think Shalan Lal means this song…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IadTlSh4b8
Ms. Lal, I think Sajjad was much more than a melody maker despite what he may have said. Look at this song , set in his favourite dadra taal . It has multilayered orchestration behind the voice, that slight imbalance caused by the 3/4 rhythm with notes bordering off the beat , and the preludes are interludes are not really melodic, they are prosaic statements filling in the gaps between the words . I know this song has nothing to do with Metros or cities but Sajjad was unique.
@60
I saw the entire movie on you tube just a fortnight back. There is no such song as mentioned. Delhi tere is sung by the Indian sepoys plodding their way to Delhi and Suraiya was safely ensconced in a rich man’s house enjoying the courting by the young heir. A simple story with a happy ending interspersed with good songs from Sajjad.
AK ji @56;
A perfect synopsis of Shree 420 vis a vis comparison with Modern Times.
I think Raj Kapoor made a perfect statement carrying on with …Little Tramp….out fits . It is not known whether character was written keeping Charlie Chaplin in mind or it was Director’s choice . It is of sure that Raj Kapoor was very much influenced by Charlie Chaplin . Earlier two or three actors of vintage era , including Mehmood’s father, too appeared like charlie chaplin as funny character. Mehmood himself did charlie chaplin cameo and his song ….jodi hamari banega kaisey jaani…..came very well , but nothing at all in comparison with Raj .
It is not only Charlie Chaplin , Raj was influenced by Laural and Hardy comedy too . In Shree 420 , scenes where Raj is selling Dunt Manjan at chowpatti is a direct lift from Laural Hardy ‘s 1943 film Jitter Bugs scene where Hardy is selling Gasoline Pills to the general public . The style of narration and even dialogues are matching . There is one more thing to note…..Hardy wearing Check # suit in Jitter Bug scene and Raj too wears a loose check suit in Shree 420 in a scene where he is impressing Nargis saying he just had bought a Laundry shop . This suit Raj wore again in mera Naam Joker when he met tomboy Padmini while she was fixing Rajendra Kumar poster . I think this was the beginning of third chapter of MNJ .
Mera Naam Joker…. scene…..@ 11.25 onwards….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJr4Vzt6vo4&t=772s
Shree 420 ……scene……@ 58.45 onwards…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0UuULHKfco&t=3611s
Shree 420……scene at chowpatti…..@ 50.40 onwards…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0UuULHKfco&t=3528s
Jitter Bugs…..scene @ 14.00 onwards….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWg3A8a0WRw&t=976s
Raj Kapoor’s Shree 420 film scene at chowpatti reminds me of a rare chowpatti song featuring Jeevan …. a very well known character actor of the 50s thru 70s .
17. Chowpatti pe kaljo tujhse….Rafi, Shamshad…Afsana…..HB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqyymkZT9O0
SSW,
Ummed ka tara is a very nice song, but it is not clear how Shalan Lal could have meant it.
KS Bhatiaji,
I have to endorse Shalan Lal, you have deep understanding of cinema and superb recall.
Thanks a lot for adding Chowpaty par kal jo tujhse. Besides great fun, it is also a city song.
SSW, AK, ksbhatia and Et al
Thanks for your intelligent comments.
The “Sajjad” reference is from the one from Ms Nasareen Munni Kababir’s famous mammoth series called Movie Mahal.
I do agree that he had a few songs that dominated by the orchestrations and his statement is just to tell that he would not like to be bothered by the embellishments’ of the songs further than his melodic expression.
But film art is needs other hooks to get the audience hooked on the film and so it would become financially successful.
Sajjad was very proud about his creativity and he often criticized others like Naushad for doing too much to the song.
Then there is another element: that the directors, main artists and financiers had their opinions.
Sajjad found himself as one man’s band and did not get on well with other people.
I once visited his place with a friend who was teaching his daughter.
He lived in a very simple house with very simple furniture. He was not like other music directors who wore sharkskin suites and drove expensive American cars.
His statement gives another perspective about how film music should be.
But for us he certainly left a very rich store of Hindi film Music.
Shalan
ksbhatia @67 & 68
You have certainly studied well Chaplin. You have not mentioned Noor Muhammad Charlie who did Chaplin and for certain times was a very respected comic far better than Mumtaj Ali.
His problem was he went to Pakistan and returned but gian producers like Chandulal Shaha were scared to give him chance again as the public onion at the time was very volatile against all those went to Pakistan.
Sadly the Pakistani film industry though of multi-talented people was not much supported by the people because of the religion.
Presently there are many good talented artists but some whimsical politicians are cruelly against them. I think artists would be allowed to go from one country to another as now we are in a open universe.
Ms. Lal @70 I found Movie Mahal on youtube. I shall watch when time permits. Thank you for bringing it to my notice. I like Ms.Kabir’s books. You are fortunate to have met Sajjad. I have always found his music to be refreshingly different and thought provoking.
SSW @ 72
I am glad you found the series Movie Mahal is on YT. This series made Indian films doubly popular without being too pedantic. It also gave all the old actors and musicians and others a second chance to be popular when the golden era of Hindi films virtually disappeared. I hope you will enjoy it but I cannot tell you in what section of the series Sajjad appeared. Perhaps it will take a year or two for you to find it. I mentioned it from my memory. I do not watch Hindi films nowadays as I have got “12 if not more labours of Hercules” to finish before “I go to a long sleep”.
There is also a very good interview with Dilip Kumar about the place of songs and Music in the Hindi films.
The series is very good resource for music lovers and Hindi films lovers for information from the Horses. mouths.
Shalan Lal
KSBhatia@71
Both Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel came from the Music Hall tradition. Chaplin’s mother was a very big star on the stage of Music Hall theatre and Laurel’s father was also a star on the Music Hall stage.
Both actors watched their parents being huge celebrities and their acts in their childhood.
Both went to USA for their career. Both appeared in the silent films before they had their own career. For a while Stan Laurel acted as a shadow of Chaplin.
Both developed their own styles of humour. Charlie had social concern and it came out in his films. Laurel boldly said that he never wanted anything deep in his humour. Laurel was very lucky that he met Hardy and paired with him in many successful films
Laurel wrote the scripts and edited them as well.
Chaplin did everything in his films including the music, songs dances etc. Chaplin’s song “This is my song” became very famous and became a symbol for his life.
Stan’s song “Blue Mountain of Virginia” is a forever great song and he performed very well
RK’s humour was influenced by both the genres of Chaplin and Laurel. He too was a very good singer and definitely a treasure of Hindi films forever.
Shalan Lal
It seems Bombay has outstripped Delhi. Here is one on Delhi In the first antara of the song Kajaraa Muhabbat Vaalaa, Dilli is mentioned.
Kajaraa Muhabbat Vaalaa, Ankhiyon Men Aisaa Daalaa by Asha Bhosle & Shamshad Begum, film Kismat (1968), lyrics S H Bihari, music O P Nayyar
dilli shahar ka sara mina bazar le ke
dilli shahar ka sara mina bazar le ke
jhumka bareli vala kano me aisa dala
jhumke ne le li meri jaan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5wdyBNi5Go
In the fourth stanza of the following song (6:00) you will find the mention of Dilli
ho tujhse milna purani dilli me
chhod aaye nishani dilli me
pal nimani dari betalab teri meri kahani dilli me
ho kali kamali wale ko yaad karte
Kajrare Kajrare Tere Kare Kare Naina by Javed Ali, Shankar Mahadevan & Alisha Chinai, film Bunty Aur Babli(2005), lyrics Gulzar, music Shankar Ehsaan Loy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DovUEruZ2q4
Although I am posting few post 2000 songs, they are not exactly my cup of tea.
jagegee rat bhar, aur bhagegee sath par par dalegee, singer, lyricist & music Rabbi Shergill, film Delhi Heights (2007)
At the end of each anatara the line gets repeated
wahan mai tha, too thee, aur thee dillee bass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf7w66Tv-nM
yeh dilli hai mere yaar, bas ishq mohabbat pyaar by Benny Dayal,Blaaze & Tanvi, film Dilli 6 (2009), lyrics Prasoon Joshi, music A R Rehman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPkthMfeWMY
……..
A non film song
Dilli Ki Raat Sung By: Bappi Lahiri, Anmol Malik Music Director: Anu Malik Lyrics By: Puneet Sharma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PN0DdQ6IPU
entry to delhi delhi by Amandeep Singh Jolly, film Mumbai Delhi Mumbai (2014), lyrics Priya Panchal, music Sawan Dutta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHrk4L8hhTg
Bombay
Ye Haseen Bombai Apne Ko To Jam Gaya by Mukesh, & Mohender Kapoor, film Holiday In Bombay (1963), lyrics Anjaan, music N Dutta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1WcF_sut4
Bambai Shahar Ki Tujhko Chal Sair Kara Doon by Kishore, film Piya Ka Ghar (1972), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ywpma1h3GM
Bambai Sham Ke Baad Hasin Kuch Aur Bhi Ho Jati Hai by Asha Bhosle, film Sarkari Mehman (1979), Lyrics & music Ravindra jain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5fmrKl9dCE
Lakh lakh log aake bas jate hain, is sahar se dil laga ke phas jate hai by Bappi Lahiri & Vishal Dadlani, film Taxi No 9211 (2006), lyrics Vishal Dadlani, music Vishal Shekhar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiOFYXdku9w
Bam Bam Bambai, Bambai Humko Jam Gayi by Amit Kumar, film Swarg (1990), lyrics Sameer, music Anand Milind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLgl8f1pSZg
Venkataramanji,
In my post I tried to support the underdog – giving more songs than Bombay. In your lists, many songs were new to me. Delhi seems to be more unexplored. With Punjab taking over Bollywood, we are going to see more films set in Delhi. Unfortunately, though they are capturing the city visually, the songs do not leave a lasting impact.
AK ji ,
Here is a sort of golden period song which I think most of us have not heard it before . The song is a faster one and requires close ear hearing . The song mention Kalkutta , Bengal and probably Patna also . The video song mention it as a duet by Durrani and Shamshad but I think there is a third singer too and that probably is Rafi . …A question for experts to answer .
18. Bogi bogi bogi yo yo yo ……Hum Log [1951] ….Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUhQU-UNpU0
The tune / composition reminds me of various vintage hindi songs that were based on hollywoods famous Carmen songs .
Bengaluru has featured in several Kannada songs.
Beledide noda Bengaluru nagara ( see how the city of Bengaluru has grown!)
MANE KATTI NODU,1966,P B Srinivas,C V ShivaShankar,R Ratna.
CVS was the producer, director ( under the pseudonym of Sadguru), writer ( story, dialogues, lyrics) and also an actor in this movie.
https://youtu.be/EFQII2gH3gi
Andadooru Bengaluru,anandada thavarooru( The beautiful city of Bengaluru is the home for happiness)…
BOREGOWDA BENGALOORIGE BANDA,1970.P Susheela,Chi Udayashankar,Rajan Nagendra.
Ayyayyayyo halli mukka,Yaavaag bande Bengaluru pakka ( You pitiable village bumpkin,whenever did you arrive at Bengaluru?)….. MAYOR MUTHANNA,1969,L R Ishwari ,PBS and chorus,Chi Udayashankar, Rajan Nagendra.
https://youtu.be/aSHAvV9WEZ8
Kannada nadina cheluvina agara,badukina bangara.. BENGALURU RATRIYALLI,1984,SPB,Mhd Fakruddin, Prabhakar Badri.
The title means… Bengaluru by Night like
Bombay Raat Ki Bahon Mein.
Yaare Akka Bengaluru kayolu,NAVASHAKTHI VAIBHAVA,2008, Gangotri,Hamsalekha (lyrics and music).
The song is interesting because a RajKumar look alike sings in a RajKumar like voice!
https://youtu.be/iY_95IGqcnE
Mysore Dasara gombe, gombe neene nanna rambhe, Bengaluru pete dalimbe ( Mysore Dasara doll, you are my Rambha, Delicious pomegranate from the Bengaluru market, trust me!)…
KANYA RATNA,1963,T A Mothi,Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri,G K Venkatesh.
https:youtu.be/ IJSrgmGG8UO
Raag Poorvi? It was one of the most popular comedy songs of the time.
Mysore being considered the cultural capital of Karnataka, and the Dasara celebration being a globally awaited event, there are many songs featuring the city.
Dr Shetty,
I am sure a number of towns from South India must have been mentioned in songs. Some have been mentioned by the readers too. Alas, I don’t understand the language.
@82
Dr Pradeep Kr. Shetty
I guess you are a resident of Bengaluru.
If so, you have done full justice as a Bengaluru-vasi.
Being a “Prabasi Madrasi” settled in Kolkata, I should have posted a few Madras and Calcutta songs.
Here is a song from the 1940s Tamil film En Manaivi (My Wife). The song is about Madras, the singer refers to it as Pattinam, which means city in Tamil. The song is preceded by scenes from 1940-Madras. The song Pattanattha parhtu parthu, is based on typical Tamil folk tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1YpTjKDCEo
The title music of this film depicts vintage Madras city. The film was based on a Marathi play, Samshay Kallol (1916), by G.B. Deval, which was again based partly on Molière’s play Sganarelle (1660), or The Self-Deceived Husband.
Direction, Screenplay & Editing Sundar Rao Nadkarni, Composer T K Sundara Vadiyaar, Orchestra Saraswati Stores Orchestra. The visuals of old Madras starts from 2:00 after the title credits. You can see tram-cars and hand drawn rickshaws plying in vintage Madras.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3D_DIMRoDM
The following Hindi film song covers all the four Metros.
Bombay ho ya Madraas ho Dilli ho ya Kalkatta ho by S P Balasubramaniyam,film I Love You (1992), lyrics Kaushik , Kavi Pradeep, music Ram Laxman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajy3mVtXhYw
Another song from a Tamil film
Madrasi Dostu nee, manasale goldu nee, teenageu governmentin chief minister nee by Krishnaraj & Naveen, film Nenjinile (1999), lyrics Vaali (?), music Devan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6leNXF3lKo
Dr.Pradeep Kr Shettyji,
@88
Yes this song was posted by both Anupji & Anuji in the post ‘Bharat Darshan in Songs (2): Metros’. The opening lines are
Bambai se gai Poona puna se gai Dilhi
Dilhi se gai Patna, phir bhi na mila sajana.
Only one song on Poona has been posted here by AKji. I believe there are not many songs on Poona.
Dr.Pradeep Kr.Shettyji,
Sorry ,this was (@85) was in response to your comment in Bharat Darshan in Songs (1): Small towns(@88)
Only one song on Hyderabad has been posted . This would be the second song on Hyderabad.
Poochh Rahi Hai Ladki Hyderabadi by Alka Yagnik, film Rakhwala (1989), lyrics Sameer, music Anand-Milind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_qdtzbOJcI
Compared to the other major metros, not many songs on Calcutta or Kolkata have been posted. I think Kolkata needs more prop ups.
Bari Thekey Paliye(1958) was a Bengali film by Ritwik Ghatak. It tries to capture a child’s vision of the metropolis, Calcutta.
The film is based on a story written by Shibram Chakraborty. The plot is about a mischievous boy who runs away from his village and goes to Calcutta. The big city of Kolkata is an Eldorado for him till he reaches there. Through the eyes of this eight years old boy Ritwik Ghatak portray the glimpses of reality, a different view of the city. He meets a small and loving girl Mini and her family, a folk singer, a street hawker, a footpath magician, beggars & thieves.
Calcutta as seen in Bari Thekey Paliye [1958)
Kanchan, the eight years old boy arrives in Calcutta. The initial shot captures the sun rise over Howrah Bridge. At 02:10 there is a song by a Baul on Kolkatta. Salil Choudhury was the music director. The song ends at 07:05. Calcutta panorama continues for the next two and a half minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rH8Bzf1iNI
Continuing from @88
One can notice Ganges from the Howrah Bridge, the hand drawn cart by the side of Tram on the Strand Road, Double Decker Buses, Old Khidderpore Bridge, , Bullock carts, road side dwellings (probably of poor refugees), Dalhousie and Esplanade.
Two Bengali film songs on Kolkata.
Ami Miss Calcutta by Aarati Mukherjee, film Basanta Bilap (1976), lyrics Pulak Banerjee, music Sudhin Dasgupta
This song also mentions Haryana, Chandigarh and Patna. A sort of Parody too.
Aparna Sen and Soumitra Chatterjee were in the lead roles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TPBl5ECV5I
The next song mentions several areas of Kolkata – Ballygunge, Tollygunge, Shyambazar, Baghbazar, Beckbagan, Haatibagan, Kidderpore, Bhawanipur, Park Street, College Street, VIP Road & EM Bypass.
The song was lip-synched by actress Debasree Roy. In 1985, she was paired with Sandeep Patil in Kabhi Ajnabi The (1985). In 1988, she appeared as Satyavati in B.R.Chopra’s TV serial Mahabharat. At present she is the sitting MLA of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
Ami Kolkatar rasogolla by Kavita Krishnamurthy, film Rakte Lekha(1992), music Bappi Lahiri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUSCKFBYiOA
Recently Bengal’s Rosogolla got the GI tag.
Earlier I had presented a panorama of 1958 Kolkata from Ritwik Ghatak’s film Badi theke Paliye. Now watch Kolkata after 58 years from the film Praktan (2016), a Bengali Movie starring Prosenjit Chatterjee (son of Biswajeet ) and Rituparna Sengupta.
KOLKATA , a tribute by Anupam Roy, film Praktan (2016), Singer Anupam Roy and Shreya Ghoshal, lyrics & music Anupam Roy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmIhZCNXfJE
Venkatraman ji ;
Whenever Howrah Bridge and Calcutta is mentioned my mind immediately is instantly diverted to scenes of …..Do Bigha Zamin .
1…..Kadam kadam pe dekhi bhool bhuliyan , ajab tori duniya
2. ….Balraj Sahni to Rattan Kumar…..Ab do teen aane se kuchh nahin banega . Ab to hamehein kam se kam char aane roz kammane parende gaien…..
3. Balraj to Nirupa Roy….Itni mehnet mazoori karne ke baad be sirf 50 rupae kamata hun. Ab mein 235 rupaiye kahan se laun ?
4. The scenes of the lady dadi settling disputes of every one of the basti . [ If some one name the actress ?]
…and many more such scenes . Though I saw the movie in the mid 50s when I was just 7 or 8 years old , the movie left a deep impression in me of its high quality in every department of production . What lied ahead in Bimal da’s productions stamped my observation . I made it a point to see every film of Bimal Roy …..and what an emotional journey that was .!!
Bhatiaji,
The lady who played the role of the landlady was Rajlakshmi, a veteran Bengali stage and film actress. She was born in Meerut in 1902 and after her initial trading in dance and music she came to Calcutta and became a stage actress. Her first stage performance was in Rabindranath Takhur’s Grihapravesh. Her first film was Palli Samaj written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Her first film was in the year 1932.
Bhatiaji, AKji
Parineeta and Do Bigh Zamin were shot concurrently by Bimal Roy. Both films were released in 1953. Parineeta too had a couple of scenes on Calcutta.
Very few films of the silent era have survived. ‘Jamai Babu’ (1931 -Brother in Law), is one of them. . This film is a Chaplinesque comedy involving a bumbling rustic who comes to Calcutta to look up his wife who lives with her father. Taking a ‘No Nuisance’ sign for an address, he gets lost in the streets of Calcutta. His subsequent adventures take him to famous locations including the Victoria Memorial, Chowringhee area, the Dhakuria lakes etc. This 23 minutes film uses real locales in Calcutta quite effectively. The scenes of Calcutta are from 06:00 to 14:00
Let us make a ‘Manas Vraman’ of Calcutta/ Kolkata.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMum2cm2Mh8
Here is song on Kolkata from 1980s Hindi film. The camera captures some well-known locations of Kolkata.
Shahid Minar, Writers Building, Park Street, Chowringhee, Dalhousie Square (Benoy Badal Dinesh Bagh-BBD Bagh),Howrah Bridge (now Rabindra Setu), RBI Building, GPO, Maidan, Statues of Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji, legendary footballer Gosto Paul, the Rath yatra, Eid prayers at Red Road, Kalighat Kali Temple, Esplanade (now Sido Kanu Dahar), , Strand Road, Shyambazar.
And the song also mentions some familiar area like Shyambazar, Radhabazar, Tollygunge, Ballygunge, Kalighat etc.
Shaharo Me Se Shahar Suna Shaher Calcatta by Kishore Kumar, film Jagir (1984), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music R D Burman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3_ydFMnQiw
Venkataramanji,
Jamai Babu is a lovely film. Shaharon mein shahar suna is also an excellent Calcutta song. Thanks a lot for sharing it.
Two NFS by Usha Uthup on Kolkata.
Presumably this was last song / album recorded by R D Burman during 1993.
Kolkata Te Bati Nai – Usha Uthup – R D Burman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuXOmRbWcPM
Usha Uthup sings ‘Kolkata Kolkata’ a Bengali song on a television show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsVR3dNy95I
We have heard about Benarsi Paan, This Telugu film song mentions Calcutta Paan.
Raghavendra (2003), Calcutta Pan Vesina Song by Shankar Mahadevan & Chitra, music Mani Sharma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHiUrL7uYKc
Here is a nice song which mentions both Dilli & Kalkatta.
ek najar me humne tumko dil ki dilli de dali by Geeta Dutt & Hemant Kumar, film Laalten (1956), lyrics Kaif Irfani, music Hemant Kumar
humne bhi to diya hai tumko jaan ka calcutta
ab darte ho kahi jamana kaat na dale patta
http://www.hungama.com/album/lalten/20142094/
Another song which refers to Dilli from the same film
o lili lili lili lili lili, tu thum ja mere aage aa gayi billi by Balbi & Geeta Dutt, film Laalten (1956), lyrics Shewan Rizwi, music Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1kGUREZxEg
A song from Makheechoos instantly pops up
O arabpati ki chori … Dilli duur nahin
singers are Talat and Sudha Malhotra
AK ji , Venkatraman ji ;
Thank God ….Delhi and NCR are nearly out of covid grip . Those who missed Delhi as their vacation destination …for them here is a very rare song from a very unknown movie of the early 40s .
A song surfaced out from great depth ….
BLACKOUT (1942) – Haay……..Dil ko le gaya chor – Ninu Mazumdar and Rehmat Bai….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE5WDLquX-8
AK ji , Venkatraman ji ;
No place to live and no place to sleep …but wait still I can live in a city of my dream …Delhi, Calcutta and Bombai [ names of cities of those times ].
Sanam Tu Chal Diya Rasta – Mohammad Rafi Classic Song – Salil Chowdhury…Rafi …Maya [1961]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyX0WQoLFJs
KS hatiaji,
This song also takes you to Ajanta and Ellora.
{ 1 trackback }